The U.S. Supreme Court in 1936 -- fettering the press "fetters ourselves"

A-KEY QUOTATIONS
The U.S. Supreme Court in 1936 -- fettering the press "fetters ourselves"
By Justice George Sutherland
Jan 19, 2005, 11:26

The newspapers, magazines, and other journals of the country, it is safe to say, have shed and continue to shed more light on the public and business affairs of the nation than any other instrumentality of publicity; and since informed public opinion is the most potent of all restraints upon misgovernment, the suppression or abridgment of the publicity afforded by a free press cannot be regarded otherwise than with grave concern . . . A free press stands as one of the great interpreter between the government and the people. To allow it to be fettered is to fetter ourselves . . . .

-- Justice George Sutherland, delivering Supreme Court's unanimous opinion in Grosjean v. American Press Co., 297 U.S. 233; 56 S. Ct. 444. 1936.

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